Understanding lenses

- There are a lot of complex parts in a modern camera…but one of the most critical components is the lens.…It's the lens that focuses the light from your scene…onto the image sensor in your camera.…And different lenses will do a better or worse job…of focusing that light.…A superior lens will yield an image with…sharper details, better contrast, richer colors.…Also sometimes, a lens…just has an indefinable quality that you might prefer,…even if you can't identify exactly why.…But image quality is not the only thing…that separates one lens from another.…

Every lens is engineered to have a specific focal length.…This is the physical length of the lens.…And a lenses' focal length has a profound impact…on what you will see through the lens.…This is because focal length…determines the lenses' field of view.…Field of view should not be a confusing concept to you…because you live with a visual field of view all the time.…Right now, your eyes are revealing…a certain field of view to you.…If you include the full periphery of your vision,…

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Released

9/15/2015

It takes more than a camera to be a good photographer. But with today's smart technology and training from lynda.com, it's easier than ever to learn how to take great pictures. This course, designed strictly for beginners, provides for a solid grounding in the skills and tools you'll need to explore the world of digital photography. Ben Long starts with a look at the different types of cameras on the market and guidelines for setting your camera up for success. He also introduces the theory behind exposure: controlling the amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor.

Then it's time to take to the field and examine the rest of the factors that influence the quality of your photographs, including light metering, focus, composition, and flash. Ben also introduces techniques for shooting portraits and shows what you can do with an image editor in post. Last but not least, he'll provide a roadmap for learning more with the lynda.com extensive library of photography training. The path to becoming a better photographer begins with the first step. Start here!